76. Chapter 76

AU After Rise

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This is so not mine. Rating: M Time: An AU Rise.

Author's note: Okay, this is not precisely after Rise, it's just after the start of Rise. Sort of. And I do realize this is way out of sequence for my After…series, but it's filled with lots of warm, chewy Casketty goodness and I get to write Josh as Bad Josh. What's not to like?

Kate Beckett grimaced as the nurse helped her on with her blouse. She kept quiet since she didn't want anything to happen that might keep her from finally getting out of the hospital. Her phone rang. "Damn! I left it in my purse." She started to go to her purse, but the nurse quickly cut her off, grabbed the purse and handed it to her.

Kate took out her phone and answered. "Hi, Dad. Are you here? I'm almost ready to leave."

"Katie, I can't make it. I tried to call you earlier, but you didn't pick up."

"What? Has something happened?" She said, worried.

"No, it's just that the car broke down after I picked up all the stuff from your place that you wanted to bring to the cabin. I called Triple A for a tow, and they say it's the timing belt. I'll be here all day, at least. But I did call Lanie."

"Okay, she can bring my stuff over and maybe…"

"I couldn't get ahold of her. Everything went to voicemail, so I called Ryan and Esposito. But they were at a crime scene and had another one to go to after that. And then some kind of mandatory meeting with the new captain. And they told me that Lanie is in Albany for some kind of a coroner's meeting."

"That's okay, Dad. We'll manage somehow. We always do."

"Um, Katie. I called Castle. He said he'd be happy to help out. He should be there soon."

"Oh!" Was all that Kate could manage.

"Is that okay, Katie? Calling Castle?"

Kate nodded. "Sure, Dad. No problem." Castle was probably the last person she wanted to see right now, but she could hardly tell her dad why she didn't want to see the man who loved her.

"Okay, Katie. Give me a call when you get there, or if you need anything. Love you. Bye."

"Love you, too, Dad." She hung up.

The door opened and Josh walked in. "Are you all set? Are you sure I can't drive you to the cabin? It'd be no problem."

"Josh, about that…"

The door opened again and Castle stuck his head in. "Hi, I'm here. Are you decent?"

Josh whirled around to face Castle. "What the hell are you doing here? Get out of this hospital this instant, you bastard! Haven't you done enough to Kate already? Out!" He balled his fists and advanced on Castle, who stood his ground in the doorway.

"Wait a damned minute. Her dad asked me to…"

"I said get the hell out!" He stood toe to toe with Castle.

"Castle! Josh! Stop it!" Kate yelled.

Josh turned to Kate. "Kate, keep out of this! Let me handle this asshole!" He turned hack to Castle. "You damned near got her killed. Do you want another chance? You're going to have to go through me to get to her! You want to try it?" He pushed his face right into Castle's.

"Will you two shut up?" Kate screamed heading towards the two men as the nurse trailed in her wake. "Castle, go to the front lobby and stay there!"

"Beckett, I have…"

"Castle! Go! Now! The lobby!" She yelled. The strain of yelling was starting to make her chest ache more.

Castle was not about to argue with her in the mood she was in. He left, pulling her suitcase behind him.

She turned on Josh and closed the door. Castle could hear a loud argument as he headed for the elevator, but he couldn't make out any words.

He had been standing in the lobby for about ten minutes when he saw Beckett being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse.

"Where's your car?" She barked at him.

"My car?" Why did she want to know that?

"Yes, your car?"

"In the parking lot."

"Well, go get it." He stood there looking at her. "Now!"

He left for his car. He was back in five minutes and found Beckett sitting in her wheelchair, on the sidewalk outside the hospital, looking very impatient. He got out of the car, unsure of what to do. "Um…"He couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Put my suitcase in the trunk."

As he did so, she rose from the wheelchair and with the nurse's help, she got in the car.

Castle got in and looked at her. She handed him a piece of paper. "These are the directions to our cabin."

"Um, I thought Josh would be taking you to…"

"Does it look like he's taking me anywhere, Castle?" She barked. Her chest ached.

Castle looked at the paper and started the car. They had been driving for some ten minutes when Beckett spoke again, quietly this time. "I'm sorry, Castle. I never asked you if you had anything you needed to do today. If I'm a problem, you can just take me to my place. I'll get to the cabin somehow."

"You're never a problem, Beckett." He said, smiling at her.

"You don't have to lie to me." She said, but she smiled ever so slightly, too.

They drove for another ten minutes in heavy Manhattan traffic before she spoke again. "Could I ask you for another favor?"

"Sure. Anything."

"The coffee in the hospital was awful. Worse than what they had in the precinct before…you. Could you stop and get me a cup of coffee? The biggest cup they have?" She pulled her purse from the floor and looked for her wallet. "I can pay for it…"

"Nonsense. I always buy your coffee. The Universe wouldn't understand you buying your own coffee. Don't you respect the Universe?"

She put her purse back on the floor and hid her smile from Castle.

"There's a Java Joint in a couple blocks. I'll stop there." Castle found a parking place, got out and was soon back with her coffee. "Just the way you like it."

Kate inhaled the scent of the coffee. It was marvelous. She took a sip. "Oh, thank you." She said softly. Her chest still ached, but she decided against another pain pill. She couldn't take too many or she'd become addicted.

They rode along with Kate sipping her coffee until it was all gone. She almost asked him to get another cup, but decided against it. He's already doing more for me than I deserve. She thought. But I do have to tell him. She tried to think of how to tell him, finally deciding just to tell him directly. "Josh and I broke up."

Castle was surprised. "Why? I hope it wasn't something I did? Maybe I could…"

Kate cut him off. "Castle, please. I don't want to talk about it right now. I don't want to talk about anything. Please. My chest aches, I'm stressed, I'm…I just don't want to do anything but relax."

Rick changed the subject. "You can put the seat back all the way, you know. The control is on the side. The back of the seat will go all the way down like a bed." Kate put the seat back and managed to get some sleep.

An hour later she woke up and found her chest still aching. She decided against another pain pill. She did sit up. "Castle, Josh was jealous of you."

"What?" That made no sense to Rick. Josh was sleeping with Kate. She was his girlfriend. Why would Josh be jealous of him? "Why would Josh be jealous?"

"You were with me a lot more than he was. When he'd ask me about my day, it was always, "Castle and I went to the crime scene," or, "Castle and I talked to the vic's wife and Castle noticed…" and " I told Castle something and he said something else…" To Josh, my life seemed to be a lot more about Kate and Castle rather than Josh and Kate."

"That's absurd. Look, I can talk to him, explain…"

"No!" Kate said fiercely. "You will not talk to Josh. Never! Do you understand?"

He shrugged. "If you say so."

Kate didn't speak for a while. "There was more. I'd come home at night and I'd we worn out from twelve or fourteen hour days and I'd be too tired to have sex. After a while, he started to think that the reason I didn't want sex with him was because I was having sex with you."

"That's absurd. You are not that kind of person at all. He must be…"

"Thank you, Castle." She said quietly. "You know that I'm not that type and I know it, but Josh doesn't know it. When we fought after you left, he called me a cheap whore. He said he was my plan B. If I couldn't snag the millionaire novelist, I'd settle for the cardiologist."

"Kate, I should tell him the truth. Maybe you two…"

"Castle!" She said sharply. "He called me a cheap whore! We are over and I never want you to mention… that man again. Do you understand?" Castle nodded. "Besides, I did tell him the truth as I was leaving my room, in front of two nurses. I told him he was right. You and I had been screwing like demented rabbits for months. I told him that he simply wasn't man enough to satisfy me like Richard Castle could. I was very specific about the differences between you and Josh. And from the looks on the faces of the nurses, you have two new fans."

Rick laughed. "You are evil."

"Don't you ever forget it."

Hours later, Castle pulled off the main road and was nearly to the Beckett's cabin. As they drove through the small town nearest the cabin, Kate pointed out the places of interest, such as they were. Finally, Castle pulled up in front of the single story log cabin, nestled in the woods. He jumped out and ran around to the passenger side of the car. Kate had the door open and was almost out, when Castle put one arm around her shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her off the ground.

"Castle! What are you doing? I can walk."

"Sure, you can walk, but I'm going to carry you. You wanted me to take you up to the cabin and I did. But we'll do this my way. I know you'll hate it, but I'm going to coddle you, spoil you, and take care of you. And we're at the front door anyway. Do you have the keys?"

Kate reached into her purse and pulled out her keys. Castle allowed her to open the door while he held her. Once inside, he put her down gently on the couch, put a pillow under her head and covered her with a blanket that was folded at the end of the couch. "Now stay right there while I get your suitcase."

He was back shortly. "Where does this go?"

"Down the hallway, it's the last room on the left. In the back of the cabin."

"Don't worry, I won't peek at any of your stuff." He said as he went to the bedroom. He was back in a minute. "Okay, before I leave, can I do anything for you? Get anything from town?"

Kate nodded. "If you wouldn't mind, I didn't get breakfast this morning. I was too busy getting checked out by the doctors and filling out all the paperwork. I'm hungry. If you could maybe make me a sandwich and some soup? And make something for yourself. I don't want to eat alone."

"Sure." Castle went into the kitchen and began rummaging around.

"My dad was up here earlier this week and should have stocked me up." Kate called.

"Yeah. There's a lot here. Do you like tuna? I could make you a tuna salad sandwich. What kind of soup do you like?"

"Tuna is fine. Is there any split pea and ham?"

"Yes. I'll have lunch in no time."

Kate heard Castle humming to himself and rattling around in the kitchen. He came out shortly thereafter, walked over to Kate and picked her up again. "Lunch is served." He announced portentously as he set her down gently at the kitchen table.

Kate was starved and ate everything as fast as she could. She also had one of her pain pills.

"Would you like more?" Castle asked, seeing how quickly she had downed her lunch.

"No. I'm fine." Kate said happily.

Castle checked his watch. "I should be headed back to the city. Need anything else before I go?"

Kate looked at the floor, then looked at Rick. "If you wouldn't mind…" She stopped, not wanting to go further.

"Sure. Anything you want, Beckett."

"Could you stay for a little bit? Maybe read to me?"

"Sure. What would you like me to read?"

"Heat Wave?" She asked softly. "It's in the bookcase."

Castle carried her back to couch, arranged her pillow and covered her with a blanket. Then he sat in a chair and began to read, "It was always the same for her when she arrived to meet the body…."

He read on as Kate listened and nodded at her favorite parts. By the third chapter, he could see that Kate was asleep. He stopped reading and stood up. He really needed to pee. He had noted where the bathroom was and quickly emptied his bladder. He was just closing the bathroom door behind him when he heard Kate scream.

"Castle? Castle! Where are you? Castle!"

He ran into the living room and found Kate sitting up with the blanket wrapped around her and a look of fear on her face. He put his arms around her and held her tightly. "It's okay. I'm right here."

"Where were you?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"I had to go pee. I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Castle noticed she was shivering and tried to wrap her in the blanket again. She stopped him. "No. Just hold me. Please, hold me." She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I'm sorry, Castle. I woke up and you weren't here. I panicked. That was so stupid. But they shot me, Castle. I died and they brought me back. And someone is still out there."

Castle held her. "I'm right here, Kate. I won't let anything hurt you. I'm right here."

"Castle, lie down on the couch with me. Hold me, please." Kate scooted over to the very back of the couch, allowing Rick to lie down next to her. "Please just hold me."

Castle couldn't remember how long he'd wanted to hold Kate Beckett in his arms, but not like this. Not with Kate shaking in fear in his arms. But, after a few minutes she settled down and they held each other. Castle felt Kate's breathing become slow and regular. She was asleep again. But this time he'd let his bladder explode before he'd move.

Kate woke up late in the afternoon. "I'm sorry. You must be uncomfortable, Castle. Do you want to sit up?"

"No, I'm happy where I am."

"Me, too." She snuggled against him.

They snuggled together until the sun started to go down.

"Could you make us some dinner, Castle?"

"What would you like?"

"Surprise me."

"Will you be okay in here by yourself?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, Castle. I'm supposed to be the tough, kick-ass cop and I fell apart on you. I won't bother you again."

"Again? You have yet to bother me, Kate."

"Liar." She whispered.

Castle got up and headed for the kitchen. He found a couple of filet mignons in the refrigerator, some fresh green peas and corn on the cob. That, and a salad, would be their dinner.

When they were done with dinner, he carried her back to the couch. She decided that she liked being pampered by Castle.

"Kate, I have to go back to the city…" He began.

"Castle, please, don't." He was surprised at the look of fear on her face. "Please don't go. Don't leave me here alone."

He pulled her to him and hugged her, inhaling her scent. "I'll stay for as long as you want me to. But if I'm going to stay I do have to go back to the city and get some things, okay?"

"Okay. As long as you come back."

"I'll sleep in the other bedroom tonight and drive back to the loft tomorrow, get my stuff, let Alexis and Martha know where I am and come right back to you, okay?"

"No."

"No? What do you mean, no?"

"I heard you, Castle." she said, holding him as tightly as she could, fearing he'd go away.

"Yeah, I was right here when I asked you…"

"I heard you say, "Kate, I love you, I love you, Kate." I'm so sorry, Rick. I shouldn't have lied to you. But I was still with Josh, and he did save my life. And I was so hurt and afraid, and I…I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me."

He put his lips next to her ears. "Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate."

"Do you really?"

"I really love you."

"I love you, too." She felt her tears start to fall. "The no was about sleeping in the other bedroom. From now on, we sleep together."

"Are you sure you're up to it?"

Kate felt the tears flow again. "Rick, I'm so sorry. I don't think I can make love to you tonight. Either my chest aches, or I'm woozy from the pain pills. I want to so badly, but I don't know if I can."

"I can wait, Kate. We'll just sleep together tonight, and when you're up to it, we'll make love. I've waited a long time for you, and I want everything to be right with us. Everything."

Kate relaxed in his arms for a long time. "We should go to bed." She said finally. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. "If you'd like you can use the bathroom down the hall while I'm in here. I'm going to take two of my pills and I want to be awake enough to kiss you goodnight."

"I'll be right back." Rick rushed through his nightly routine and got back just as Kate, dressed in running shorts and a tee shirt was climbing into bed. He noticed she had placed her Glock on the nightstand beside their bed. "What's the gun for?"

"Someone tried to kill me, remember?" She said sleepily.

"Okay, you move over to the other side of the bed."

She looked at him, uncertainly.

"You're in no shape for a gun fight. And, if anyone comes through the door looking for you, I'll be between you and them."

She nodded and got out of bed, but instead of moving to the other side, she went and got her purse.

"You need your purse?" He asked with a smile. "You're more girly than I thought."

She pulled out her backup Glock and put it on the other night stand. "Just in case someone comes through the window." She crawled in bed.

"I love you." She said after kissing him.

"And I love you, Kate." He turned to face the door and Kate spooned with him. She was asleep in seconds.

Castle was awakened by a thump and a grunt. He looked outside. It was dawn. He heard Kate swear, followed by, "Castle?"

He shot out of bed and ran to the bathroom. He found Kate on all fours, naked on the bathroom floor. "Help me up, please."

She held her arms up and he pulled her to her feet. He made every effort to look her in the eyes. "What happened?"

"I woke up about an hour ago. My chest really hurt. I think I slept on it wrong or something, so…"

"It wasn't something I did, was it?" He asked, worried.

"Of course not. And even if it was, I'm not going to stop sleeping with you. Anyway, I took another pain pill, but I couldn't get back to sleep. So I decided to have my shower. When I got in here, the pain pill made me woozy for a second and I fell. I'm okay." She smiled at him. "Well, not completely okay."

"What's wrong?"

"The man that I love won't look at my body. Is there something wrong with it?"

"No. Not at all." He said, looking down.

"I know I've lost weight, and my muscle tone is gone. I must look…"

"Perfect." he finished for her.

"No I'm not." She said quietly.

"You're perfect for me."

She took his left hand and put it on her right boob, then his right on her left. "Do you like those?"

"I love them, but I don't want to hurt you."

"Be gentle, and it won't hurt." She took his hands and put them on the cheeks of her ass. "Do you like that?" She asked, in a low voice.

He squeezed gently. "I love that. I love every part of you."

"This part, too?" She put his hand between her thighs.

"Especially that part."

"I can tell." She grasped his erection. "Help me in the shower?"

He turned on the shower while she pulled off his boxers and his tee shirt. Very gently he washed every part of her body as she washed him. When they were done, she hugged him. "I want you badly, but it hurts. But this won't hurt." She knelt before him, running her tongue along the underside of him, then taking him into her mouth.

"Kate, be careful. I don't want to hurt you."

"And if you don't let me do this, I will hurt you." She said, looking up and smiling at him. She went back to what she had been doing.

Castle had never wanted to climax as fast in his life as he did then. He exploded in her mouth, calling her name.

She rose and stood with the shower in her face, taking the water into her mouth, then spitting it out.

"My turn?" He asked, dropping to his knees. She nodded, leaning back against the shower stall and spreading her legs.

He ran his hands through her tangle of hair at the top of her thighs. He leaned in and kissed her slit, rubbing her clit with his thumb. With his other hand, he gently squeezed her ass. As with him, it didn't take long for her to orgasm. He stood and held her close. "Are you okay?"

"No, but I'll be okay when I can make love to you properly. I want you even if it hurts."

"And I can't imagine doing anything to hurt you."

"We'll manage, won't we?" She kissed him. "We need to get dressed and have breakfast."

After breakfast, Castle was ready to leave to go back to the city for his things. "Do you need anything, Kate? Anything at all?"

She gave him a sultry look.

"Anything I can get in the city, that is?"

"My dad was only planning for me to be here, so you might get some more food. And if you could bring some DVDs? You've seen what we have here. I'm sure I'll like anything you like."

"Anything else?"

"Just bring yourself back as soon as you can."

"I'll be back about noon, okay?"

She kissed him long and hard, then let him go. She watched until he was out of sight, then went back in the cabin. She went back to the bedroom, and undressed, taking off her bra and panties and putting her running shorts and a tee shirt back on. "Let it hurt." She said to herself. "I want him."

Kate waited anxiously for Rick to come back. Noon came. No Rick. Then it was twelve thirty. No Rick. Kate looked accusingly at the phone. "Call me, dammit!" She muttered. By twelve forty five. She was very worried. "He's not coming back. He got what he wanted and he won't be back." By one o'clock she was feeling sick. "What did I do wrong?" At one thirty, she felt her chest ache worse than ever before.

At one thirty seven she heard a car engine. Then she saw a silver car heading for the cabin. The driver honked the horn when he saw her walk out onto the porch, then waved. Castle pulled up in front of the cabin and got out.

She looked down at her phone. "You could have told me he loves me as much as I love him." The phone made no reply.

"Where were you?" She asked, as calmly as she could manage.

"I got some things." He went to the trunk and got out two large grocery bags.

"You got two huge grocery bags? How long are you planning to stay?" She asked with a smile.

"I have eight huge grocery bags, and I intend to stay for as long as you'll let me."

"So, you need help?"

He shook his head. "No, they're heavy. I can manage."

"I'll help you put the groceries away. You got eight bags?"

"Plus I filled an ice chest. And I got some DVDs."

They quickly put the groceries away, and Kate briefly looked at the DVDs he'd brought.

"Should I make some lunch?" he asked.

"No. Come with me." She took his hand and led him to their bedroom. She pushed down her shorts and pulled her tee shirt over her head, standing naked before him. "I can't wait any longer." She attacked the buttons on his shirt. "Get undressed. Now."

"Kate, are you sure…" he began.

She put a finger to his lips. "More sure than I've ever been of anything."

By the time she pulled his boxers down, he was almost ready. A few seconds of work by her and he was fully erect. "On your back." She said. "It'll be less painful for me if I'm astride you."

"Less painful? Kate, I'm not sure…"

"Castle! I want you and I'm going to have you even if I have to handcuff you. Understand?" She said with a smile.

"Okay, but…"

"No buts." She lowered herself down on him until he was fully inside her. "I've wanted this for so fucking long. I've needed you so badly. I should have done this years ago."

She drove herself up and down slowly at first, but then picked up speed. Her heavy breathing made her chest ache, but she kept her smile on her face. She climaxed just before he did and slid off of him and onto her side next to him. "We're together, right?" She asked.

"Always." He pulled her close. "Kate, I mean, always."

Before he could go on, the phone rang. "I'll let it go to voicemail." He said.

She reached over and handed him his phone. "It might be important."

He smiled, kissed her and answered the phone. "Hello."

"Mr. Castle, you don't know me, but I was a friend of Roy Montgomery's…"